Process for producing cold-rolled strip or sheet of austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

A process for producing a cold-rolled strip or sheet of an austenitic stainless steel, comprising the steps of: casting a melt of an austenitic stainless steel into a cast strip in the form of a thin strip having a thickness of 10 mm or less by using a continuous caster in which a casting-mold wall is moved synchronously with the cast strip; cold-rolling the cast strip to form a cold-rolled strip; final annealing the cold-rolled strip; and skin-pass-rolling the annealed strip at an elongation of from 0.5 to 2.5%.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for producing a cold-rolled strip or sheet of an austenitic stainless steel, comprising the steps of: casting a melt of an austenitic stainless steel into a cast strip in the form of a thin strip having a thickness of 10 mm or less by using a continuous caster in which a casting-mold wall is moved synchronously with the cast strip;   cold-rolling the cast strip to form a cold-rolled strip;   final annealing the cold-rolled strip; and   skin-pass-rolling the annealed strip at an elongation of from 0.5 to 2.5%.   
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein, prior to said cold rolling, said process further comprises cooling said cast strip at a cooling rate of at least 10° C./sec. in a temperature range of from 900° to 550° C. upon casting and then descaling by pickling. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1 wherein, prior to said cold rolling said process further comprises annealing said cast strip at a temperature of 1050° C. or higher and then cooling at a cooling rate of at least 10° C./sec. in a temperature range of from 900° to 550° C.